Taper Salary in San Francisco, CA
Tapers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $84,840 a year — 24% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $63,751 take-home, or $5,313 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median taper salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,835
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,260
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,230
- California income tax$3,661
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,103
- Take-home pay$63,751
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Taper pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,910 | $29.28 | $48,625 | $4,052 |
| 25th percentile | $70,600 | $33.94 | $55,143 | $4,595 |
| Median (50th) | $84,840 | $40.79 | $63,751 | $5,313 |
| 75th percentile | $103,830 | $49.92 | $75,098 | $6,258 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,680 | $62.83 | $90,963 | $7,580 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $84,840 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median taper's $63,751 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,142 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Francisco, CA has 2.4× the national concentration of taper jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for tapers, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #3 of 7 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $92,810 | $68,514 | $62,046 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $80,340 | $65,349 | $58,803 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $84,840 | $63,751 | $55,142 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $60,670 | $50,928 | $50,819 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $60,430 | $49,434 | $47,847 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $68,020 | $53,568 | $47,169 |
| 7 | Riverside, CA | $59,740 | $47,771 | $44,879 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 7 metros →
Taper salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $92,810
- Los Angeles, CA — $68,020
- Riverside, CA — $59,740
Frequently asked questions
How much does a taper make in San Francisco, CA?
The median taper salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $84,840 a year, or about $40.79 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $70,600 and $103,830.
What is a taper’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $84,840 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $63,751 a year ($5,313 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,763 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a taper?
Pay here is 24% above the national median of $68,270. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,142 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #3 of 7 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a taper afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median taper’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Construction and Building Inspector — $125,130
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $124,750
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $120,810
- Sheet Metal Worker — $102,660
- Electrician — $92,830
- Carpenter — $89,200
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $87,340
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer — $82,160
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $77,880
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $75,970
- Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles — $74,970
- Glazier — $74,550